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墨書 Inktalez
In the Medicine Hall, only the two of them were present, the candlelight dim and flickering.
Pei Guanjing gently lifted the wick, his movements soft and practiced. As the wick was raised, the light gradually brightened. Ye Chen rested his hands on the high counter, his delicate, translucent skin illuminated in an instant. Under the warm candlelight, his fair face appeared especially gentle—like a beautiful jade, with bright eyes and white teeth—standing just a foot away from Pei Guanjing.
"You seemed to agree quite a bit with their remarks earlier," Pei Guanjing said, putting down the Medical Book. He meticulously tidied up the remaining medicinal residue on the table while casually asking.
Ye Chen paused for a moment, and the clear depths of his black eyes suddenly reflected the comments made by that group in the Medical Camp regarding the Regent and King Huai'an issuing the Promotion Edict together.
Pei Guanjing was the Regent's adopted son, so he must have known some background details about this Promotion Edict before it was issued. They were certainly aware of its drawbacks but still pushed forward with this policy, undoubtedly due to a lack of talented individuals in court and the dominance of powerful families, which necessitated a temporary measure to redistribute power.
If he told Pei Guanjing about the Imperial Examination System, would he consider it? Missing this opportunity would mean that if he brought it up later, Pei Guanjing would likely overthink it. Now that Pei Guanjing had mentioned it himself, he wouldn’t think too much about it; besides, if Pei Guanjing adopted this policy, it could be seen as contributing to the advancement of thought in this era.
After some contemplation, Ye Chen smiled lightly and said, "Master, I believe they are not entirely wrong."
Pei Guanjing furrowed his brow slightly, a hint of subtle confusion flashing in his eyes. "Oh? Do you also think that the policy from the Regent and King Huai'an is inappropriate?"
Ye Chen nodded firmly. "Indeed, it is inappropriate."
Hearing Ye Chen's confident response made Pei Guanjing smile. He accurately tossed the neatly wrapped medicinal residue into a nearby waste bin before turning back to Ye Chen with a calm gaze. "What exactly is inappropriate? Is it as they said?"
Ye Chen nodded again but then shook his head. "It is both yes and no. This Promotion Edict can recommend talents for a time but cannot ensure enduring capabilities. Decades later, I fear that powerful families will still hold sway in court while imperial authority remains weak. It can only quench immediate thirst but does not guarantee that talented children from humble households will have their day in future generations."
Intrigued by this perspective, Pei Guanjing wiped his hands clean of the remnants of herbs. He then gestured for Ye Chen to sit down. "So what do you think can create lasting merit rather than just focusing on the present?"
Ye Chen had initially hoped to dissuade his opponent, thinking that with his experience and insight, it was rare for him to express such thoughts, deserving of serious consideration. However, Ye Chen's remarks sparked a desire in Pei Guanjing to engage in a serious discussion with him.
In the past, if someone had suggested that he would discuss matters of state and governance with a young Kun Ze, he would have thought they were joking. A thirteen or fourteen-year-old Kun Ze was like a lamb waiting for slaughter; it was absurd for prey to converse with the hunter.
But now—Ye Chen was someone he had underestimated.
Once seated, Ye Chen seemed liberated, launching into a passionate discourse: “Currently, there are many vacancies in the court positions, with most officials being scions of noble families. The imperial power is fragmented, which poses a significant risk. While selecting capable sons of humble households is not wrong, this Promotion Edict is far from ideal. In my opinion, we should adopt the Imperial Examination System instead.”
With each statement from Ye Chen, Pei Guanjing's interest grew incrementally.
“The Imperial Examination System?” Pei Guanjing raised an eyebrow. “Could you elaborate?”
“Um... it involves conducting examinations starting from local governments, progressing through regional administrations, and culminating in capital-level assessments, selecting capable and practical individuals for official positions,” Ye Chen summarized succinctly, delivering a statement that left Pei Guanjing astonished.
After a moment of silence, Pei Guanjing stared at Ye Chen without speaking. The darkness in his eyes deepened, and the cold atmosphere surrounding him felt as if it could freeze the air itself. Just as Ye Chen began to feel uneasy under his gaze, Pei Guanjing suddenly smiled.
“I never expected my disciple to have such extraordinary ideas. How interesting!” He said as he stood up, placing both hands on Ye Chen's shoulders and gripping them firmly. Leaning slightly forward, he looked deeply into Ye Chen's eyes. “You are quite remarkable, Ye Chen.”
“Ha ha... Master overpraises me,” Ye Chen chuckled awkwardly at the direct compliment from Pei Guanjing, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Pei Guanjing's gaze was too intense, making Ye Chen feel as if he were not being praised but rather observed like a starving wolf eyeing a piece of meat after a long fast.
Even after Pei Guanjing had left, Ye Chen still felt a chill running down his spine, an unsettling tremor lingering within him.
Thinking about spending the night in the tent separated only by a wooden board from Pei Guanjing sent a chill down Ye Chen's spine.
He hoped that his remarks would prompt Pei Guanjing and the Regent to discuss changes to their Promotion Edict. Since he had come to this world and become a part of it, he wanted to contribute to the progress of this era in any way he could.
However, this was merely an ideal scenario. How many people in a feudal dynasty would be willing to lower themselves to listen to the suggestions of an unknown individual?
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